“Relax” E-Cig Regulation, Experts Urge MPs

Experts on vaping have recommended MPs to relax regulation of e-cigarettes to encourage more smokers to quit their habits.

The House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee were advised to allow larger refill containers and allow more nicotine strengths to make vaping a more appealing alternative to smoking.

“Changing the size of the bottle may impact on cigarette smokers considering switching as the cost will come down,” said Riccardo Polosa, professor of internal medicine at the University of Catania, Italy.

Bottle sizes of e-liquid containing nicotine are currently capped at 10ml, following the formal implementation of the Tobacco Products Directive from the EU on 20th of May, 2017.

There have also been suggestions that vapers need to vape more to get the desired effects due to restrictions on nicotine content in e-liquid, with nicotine content capped at 20mg by the Tobacco Products Directive.

British politics and politicians seem to be increasingly active, or at least exposed to or involved in, affairs in the vaping industry.

Moreover, we have also seen a cross-party group of MPs and Lords rally to present vaping statistics, information and evidence to their peers at Westminster in the form of the ‘State of a Vaping Nation’ report.

“Scientific evidence shows that there are benefits of exclusive use of e-cigarettes after using conventional cigarettes — particularly in areas such as respiratory diseases and cardiovascular diseases,” said Professor Polosa.

“Our priority is to have as many smokers as possible switch to less harmful products.”

The Italian also played down links between nicotine and cancer.

“In vitro studies and animal studies have looked at nicotine effects but they don’t have clinical significance. Nicotine is not a carcinogenic substance and there is no evidence that nicotine has a carcinogenic effect.”